Virginia Wing - Ecstatic Arrow (2018)
Virginia Wing - Ecstatic Arrow (2018)
EAC Rip | FLAC (tracks+log+.cue) - 265 Mb | MP3 CBR 320 kbps - 94 Mb | 00:40:44
Synthpop, Indie, Female Vocal | Label: Fire Records
EAC Rip | FLAC (tracks+log+.cue) - 265 Mb | MP3 CBR 320 kbps - 94 Mb | 00:40:44
Synthpop, Indie, Female Vocal | Label: Fire Records
On their third album of avant-garde synth pop, Alice Merida Richards and Sam Pillay eschew protest language and the depressing status quo to conjure a vision of feminist utopia.Tracklist:
Arecent tour supporting Hookworms pushed Virginia Wing over the edge. Frustrated by the progressive psychedelic band’s incongruously laddy crowds, the Manchester synth-pop duo performed the rest of their dates against a hot pink projection that read: “END RAPE CULTURE.” Unsurprisingly, Alice Merida Richards and Sam Pillay’s message made some audiences bristle even more than the initial offenders had—and that message is in keeping with their third album, to a fashion. In a few barbed moments, Ecstatic Arrow skewers the failed promise of a supposedly enlightened independent music culture: “No half-baked program just for show,” Richards coolly declares, on “Pale Burnt Lake,” of bills that pay lip service to inclusion. But the pair generally eschews protest language and the depressing status quo, choosing instead to propose a captivating vision of utopia.
Ecstatic Arrow is an album of fresh starts. Richards and Pillay recorded in the Swiss Alps, and while the connection between location and sound is often spurious, there is a heady clarity to the album that you might describe as “alpine” if that word hadn’t been ruined by men’s shower gel. Koto sparkles; swathes of synthesizer mist descend, then break, allowing incandescent pop choruses to break through; and the pair create ashram lusciousness from icy machines. Virginia Wing’s is an understated but familiar scramble of mid-’80s pop at its most avant-garde—Laurie Anderson’s sprechgesang, Peter Gabriel and Japan’s chilly hauteur; Kate Bush’s imposing dynamic and Malcolm McLaren’s impish reinvention—so if Ecstatic Arrow doesn’t feel quite like stepping into a new world, it at least returns us to an unspoiled glade.
Especially since hype tends to peak early in an artist’s career and then tail off, it’s a pleasure to hear a band bloom on their third record. Virginia Wing’s earlier releases could be ornery and open-ended, but the songs on Ecstatic Arrow are full of the playful pop resolve that Phoenix pull off so handsomely. “The Female Genius” starts with Richards questioning the disconnect she feels as synthy twinkles with more than a passing resemblance to Kraftwerk’s “Computer Love” glint off the prowling bass. When she mocks perceptions that she is a pliant entity ready to “follow instruction disguised as suggestion,” the tone becomes robotic—which might be too on the nose if it didn’t break into such a luminous chorus, one that reaches defiantly for the future. “Eight Hours Don’t Make a Day” is similarly subversive. Its bucolic-milkmaid innocence is charming, but Virginia Wing use this puritan mode to dismiss the draining rigmarole of work and preconceived ideas about the right way to live. “There’s no tomorrow,” Richards sings. “Only today.”
There are carpe-diem moments on Ecstatic Arrow, like the punky polyrhythms of “Glorious Idea,” which lurch thrillingly between harsh, sparkling textures and degrees of intensity that oppress and release. But Virginia Wing aren’t interested in scorching the earth so much as changing the future. The first line on the album is, “Tell me, where do you go from here?”
As part of her immaculate vision, Richards attempts to divest herself of her gendered inheritance of silence and self-doubt, and she sketches the imbalance between men’s and women’s influence over public spaces in surreal, pin-sharp imagery. “I can’t provide a bench or sofa to recline/Soft furnishings feel hard when the space is confined,” she sings on “Glorious Idea.” She coins funny, surreal koans about how intentions can be misinterpreted (“You reach far with your hands/But the hands that you use are just flowers in bloom wearing gloves to confuse,” she sings on “Relativity”) but then disturbs her neat themes. On “Seasons Reversed,” Richards expresses surprise that she never noticed how conditioning had turned her into “a delicate object under a frame,” and proposes an brisk escape: “I don’t demand a violent scene/But blood in your mouth might feel like relief.” A stark bass thump highlights the pulse she might strike, and imagining the stain spread on their previously clean palette is a thrill.
Ecstatic Arrow is full of declarations delivered with such lucid certainty that they make a brighter future seem persuasively simple: “Just one full day and one perfect thought to begin again like nothing came before,” Richards sings on “Pale Burnt Lake,” amid a beautiful, looping melody. Of course, it’s not that simple. Nor is making a feminist synth-pop album that feels genuinely revelatory. But Virginia Wing make utopia feel within reach.
1 Be Released
2 The Second Shift
3 Glorious Idea
4 Relativity
5 For Every Window There's a Curtain
6 The Female Genius
7 Eight Hours Don't Make A Day
8 A Sister
9 Pale Burnt Lake
10 Seasons Reversed
Exact Audio Copy V1.3 from 2. September 2016
EAC extraction logfile from 19. June 2018, 10:36
Virginia Wing / Ecstatic Arrow
Used drive : hp CDDVDW SH-216AL Adapter: 1 ID: 0
Read mode : Secure
Utilize accurate stream : Yes
Defeat audio cache : Yes
Make use of C2 pointers : No
Read offset correction : 6
Overread into Lead-In and Lead-Out : No
Fill up missing offset samples with silence : Yes
Delete leading and trailing silent blocks : No
Null samples used in CRC calculations : Yes
Used interface : Native Win32 interface for Win NT & 2000
Gap handling : Appended to previous track
Used output format : User Defined Encoder
Selected bitrate : 1024 kBit/s
Quality : High
Add ID3 tag : No
Command line compressor : C:\Program Files (x86)\Exact Audio Copy\Flac\flac.exe
Additional command line options : -8 -e -p -V -T "ARTIST=%artist%" -T "TITLE=%title%" -T "ALBUM=%albumtitle%" -T "DATE=%year%" -T "TRACKNUMBER=%tracknr%" -T "GENRE=%genre%" -T "PERFORMER=%albuminterpret%" -T "COMPOSER=%composer%" %haslyrics%–tag-from-file=LYRICS="%lyricsfile%"%haslyrics% -T "ALBUMARTIST=%albumartist%" -T "DISCNUMBER=%cdnumber%" -T "TOTALDISCS=%totalcds%" -T "TOTALTRACKS=%numtracks%" -T "COMMENT=%comment%" %source% -o %dest%
TOC of the extracted CD
Track | Start | Length | Start sector | End sector
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––-
1 | 0:00.00 | 4:26.03 | 0 | 19952
2 | 4:26.03 | 3:01.65 | 19953 | 33592
3 | 7:27.68 | 4:25.59 | 33593 | 53526
4 | 11:53.52 | 4:22.74 | 53527 | 73250
5 | 16:16.51 | 3:15.57 | 73251 | 87932
6 | 19:32.33 | 3:49.20 | 87933 | 105127
7 | 23:21.53 | 3:51.11 | 105128 | 122463
8 | 27:12.64 | 4:04.41 | 122464 | 140804
9 | 31:17.30 | 4:16.15 | 140805 | 160019
10 | 35:33.45 | 5:11.17 | 160020 | 183361
Track 1
Filename C:\Rips v4\Virginia Wing - Ecstatic Arrow {2018} [CD] (FLAC)\01 - Be Released.wav
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Peak level 100.0 %
Extraction speed 4.3 X
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC 8C5A13DA
Copy CRC 8C5A13DA
Track not present in AccurateRip database
Copy OK
Track 2
Filename C:\Rips v4\Virginia Wing - Ecstatic Arrow {2018} [CD] (FLAC)\02 - The Second Shift.wav
Peak level 98.9 %
Extraction speed 4.5 X
Track quality 100.0 %
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Copy CRC BB1342AC
Track not present in AccurateRip database
Copy OK
Track 3
Filename C:\Rips v4\Virginia Wing - Ecstatic Arrow {2018} [CD] (FLAC)\03 - Glorious Idea.wav
Peak level 100.0 %
Extraction speed 5.2 X
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC 13178E92
Copy CRC 13178E92
Track not present in AccurateRip database
Copy OK
Track 4
Filename C:\Rips v4\Virginia Wing - Ecstatic Arrow {2018} [CD] (FLAC)\04 - Relativity.wav
Peak level 98.9 %
Extraction speed 5.6 X
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC 4DAFE701
Copy CRC 4DAFE701
Track not present in AccurateRip database
Copy OK
Track 5
Filename C:\Rips v4\Virginia Wing - Ecstatic Arrow {2018} [CD] (FLAC)\05 - For Every Window There s a Curtain.wav
Peak level 98.8 %
Extraction speed 5.7 X
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC F3FFC667
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Track not present in AccurateRip database
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Track 6
Filename C:\Rips v4\Virginia Wing - Ecstatic Arrow {2018} [CD] (FLAC)\06 - The Female Genius.wav
Peak level 98.8 %
Extraction speed 6.1 X
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC C42E1968
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Track not present in AccurateRip database
Copy OK
Track 7
Filename C:\Rips v4\Virginia Wing - Ecstatic Arrow {2018} [CD] (FLAC)\07 - Eight Hours Don t Make a Day.wav
Peak level 100.0 %
Extraction speed 6.4 X
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC ED1F35C3
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Track not present in AccurateRip database
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Track 8
Filename C:\Rips v4\Virginia Wing - Ecstatic Arrow {2018} [CD] (FLAC)\08 - A Sister.wav
Peak level 100.0 %
Extraction speed 6.8 X
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC E23ED1DD
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Track not present in AccurateRip database
Copy OK
Track 9
Filename C:\Rips v4\Virginia Wing - Ecstatic Arrow {2018} [CD] (FLAC)\09 - Pale Burnt Lake.wav
Peak level 99.0 %
Extraction speed 6.7 X
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC 942943DA
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Track not present in AccurateRip database
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Track 10
Filename C:\Rips v4\Virginia Wing - Ecstatic Arrow {2018} [CD] (FLAC)\10 - Seasons Reversed.wav
Peak level 100.0 %
Extraction speed 7.5 X
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC 37DAC0FB
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Track not present in AccurateRip database
Copy OK
None of the tracks are present in the AccurateRip database
No errors occurred
End of status report
–– CUETools DB Plugin V2.1.6
[CTDB TOCID: xieHIMdeK3DNYUWWC9_Ge7cP.ks-] found
Submit result: xieHIMdeK3DNYUWWC9_Ge7cP.ks- has been confirmed
Track | CTDB Status
1 | (1/1) Accurately ripped
2 | (1/1) Accurately ripped
3 | (1/1) Accurately ripped
4 | (1/1) Accurately ripped
5 | (1/1) Accurately ripped
6 | (1/1) Accurately ripped
7 | (1/1) Accurately ripped
8 | (1/1) Accurately ripped
9 | (1/1) Accurately ripped
10 | (1/1) Accurately ripped
==== Log checksum 04150E885072062315AE4F70BE15D0F5854E91E8CFED3ECC6CD5EE61B989935B ====
EAC extraction logfile from 19. June 2018, 10:36
Virginia Wing / Ecstatic Arrow
Used drive : hp CDDVDW SH-216AL Adapter: 1 ID: 0
Read mode : Secure
Utilize accurate stream : Yes
Defeat audio cache : Yes
Make use of C2 pointers : No
Read offset correction : 6
Overread into Lead-In and Lead-Out : No
Fill up missing offset samples with silence : Yes
Delete leading and trailing silent blocks : No
Null samples used in CRC calculations : Yes
Used interface : Native Win32 interface for Win NT & 2000
Gap handling : Appended to previous track
Used output format : User Defined Encoder
Selected bitrate : 1024 kBit/s
Quality : High
Add ID3 tag : No
Command line compressor : C:\Program Files (x86)\Exact Audio Copy\Flac\flac.exe
Additional command line options : -8 -e -p -V -T "ARTIST=%artist%" -T "TITLE=%title%" -T "ALBUM=%albumtitle%" -T "DATE=%year%" -T "TRACKNUMBER=%tracknr%" -T "GENRE=%genre%" -T "PERFORMER=%albuminterpret%" -T "COMPOSER=%composer%" %haslyrics%–tag-from-file=LYRICS="%lyricsfile%"%haslyrics% -T "ALBUMARTIST=%albumartist%" -T "DISCNUMBER=%cdnumber%" -T "TOTALDISCS=%totalcds%" -T "TOTALTRACKS=%numtracks%" -T "COMMENT=%comment%" %source% -o %dest%
TOC of the extracted CD
Track | Start | Length | Start sector | End sector
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––-
1 | 0:00.00 | 4:26.03 | 0 | 19952
2 | 4:26.03 | 3:01.65 | 19953 | 33592
3 | 7:27.68 | 4:25.59 | 33593 | 53526
4 | 11:53.52 | 4:22.74 | 53527 | 73250
5 | 16:16.51 | 3:15.57 | 73251 | 87932
6 | 19:32.33 | 3:49.20 | 87933 | 105127
7 | 23:21.53 | 3:51.11 | 105128 | 122463
8 | 27:12.64 | 4:04.41 | 122464 | 140804
9 | 31:17.30 | 4:16.15 | 140805 | 160019
10 | 35:33.45 | 5:11.17 | 160020 | 183361
Track 1
Filename C:\Rips v4\Virginia Wing - Ecstatic Arrow {2018} [CD] (FLAC)\01 - Be Released.wav
Pre-gap length 0:00:02.00
Peak level 100.0 %
Extraction speed 4.3 X
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC 8C5A13DA
Copy CRC 8C5A13DA
Track not present in AccurateRip database
Copy OK
Track 2
Filename C:\Rips v4\Virginia Wing - Ecstatic Arrow {2018} [CD] (FLAC)\02 - The Second Shift.wav
Peak level 98.9 %
Extraction speed 4.5 X
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC BB1342AC
Copy CRC BB1342AC
Track not present in AccurateRip database
Copy OK
Track 3
Filename C:\Rips v4\Virginia Wing - Ecstatic Arrow {2018} [CD] (FLAC)\03 - Glorious Idea.wav
Peak level 100.0 %
Extraction speed 5.2 X
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC 13178E92
Copy CRC 13178E92
Track not present in AccurateRip database
Copy OK
Track 4
Filename C:\Rips v4\Virginia Wing - Ecstatic Arrow {2018} [CD] (FLAC)\04 - Relativity.wav
Peak level 98.9 %
Extraction speed 5.6 X
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC 4DAFE701
Copy CRC 4DAFE701
Track not present in AccurateRip database
Copy OK
Track 5
Filename C:\Rips v4\Virginia Wing - Ecstatic Arrow {2018} [CD] (FLAC)\05 - For Every Window There s a Curtain.wav
Peak level 98.8 %
Extraction speed 5.7 X
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC F3FFC667
Copy CRC F3FFC667
Track not present in AccurateRip database
Copy OK
Track 6
Filename C:\Rips v4\Virginia Wing - Ecstatic Arrow {2018} [CD] (FLAC)\06 - The Female Genius.wav
Peak level 98.8 %
Extraction speed 6.1 X
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC C42E1968
Copy CRC C42E1968
Track not present in AccurateRip database
Copy OK
Track 7
Filename C:\Rips v4\Virginia Wing - Ecstatic Arrow {2018} [CD] (FLAC)\07 - Eight Hours Don t Make a Day.wav
Peak level 100.0 %
Extraction speed 6.4 X
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC ED1F35C3
Copy CRC ED1F35C3
Track not present in AccurateRip database
Copy OK
Track 8
Filename C:\Rips v4\Virginia Wing - Ecstatic Arrow {2018} [CD] (FLAC)\08 - A Sister.wav
Peak level 100.0 %
Extraction speed 6.8 X
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC E23ED1DD
Copy CRC E23ED1DD
Track not present in AccurateRip database
Copy OK
Track 9
Filename C:\Rips v4\Virginia Wing - Ecstatic Arrow {2018} [CD] (FLAC)\09 - Pale Burnt Lake.wav
Peak level 99.0 %
Extraction speed 6.7 X
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC 942943DA
Copy CRC 942943DA
Track not present in AccurateRip database
Copy OK
Track 10
Filename C:\Rips v4\Virginia Wing - Ecstatic Arrow {2018} [CD] (FLAC)\10 - Seasons Reversed.wav
Peak level 100.0 %
Extraction speed 7.5 X
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC 37DAC0FB
Copy CRC 37DAC0FB
Track not present in AccurateRip database
Copy OK
None of the tracks are present in the AccurateRip database
No errors occurred
End of status report
–– CUETools DB Plugin V2.1.6
[CTDB TOCID: xieHIMdeK3DNYUWWC9_Ge7cP.ks-] found
Submit result: xieHIMdeK3DNYUWWC9_Ge7cP.ks- has been confirmed
Track | CTDB Status
1 | (1/1) Accurately ripped
2 | (1/1) Accurately ripped
3 | (1/1) Accurately ripped
4 | (1/1) Accurately ripped
5 | (1/1) Accurately ripped
6 | (1/1) Accurately ripped
7 | (1/1) Accurately ripped
8 | (1/1) Accurately ripped
9 | (1/1) Accurately ripped
10 | (1/1) Accurately ripped
==== Log checksum 04150E885072062315AE4F70BE15D0F5854E91E8CFED3ECC6CD5EE61B989935B ====
Thanks to the Original ripper shitlipsdotbiz !